Ch 2- Some First Date

Jude made her way down Briarcliff's massive, imposing steps just before sunrise on Monday morning, slipping quickly into Timothy's waiting car.

"Ya came!" She said; taking off the scarf she had tied over her head. She had worn it as a disguise, not wanting any other nuns who might be awake to notice her on her way out.

"Of course." He greeted her with a smile, leaning over to kiss her lips.

Jude closed her eyes, unable to help but sink deep into his kiss. She had woken up an hour before to get ready and finish packing her few belongings. She hadn't really needed an hour, but had taken time to sit in front of the mirror and take a long look at herself. Jude was unsure if she really wanted to do this. She'd had a nice life as a nun…actually; it had arguably been the best part of her life. She didn't want to ruin that for anyone's sake, even the man she loved. After all, men had brought her a lot of trouble in her life. She was leery of doing this: but something inside her urged her to go on and do what he wished, telling her that far better things lay ahead.

"Do ya…do ya really want ta do this?" She asked.

It wasn't that she didn't. Her concerns about running off with him went far deeper than just simply wanting or not wanting.

"Of course." He smiled, taking her hand and squeezing it. "Are you ready?" The thought that she was hesitating didn't cross his mind. He couldn't afford

for it to. Jude looked back up at Briarcliff and nodded once. He kissed her again and put the car in drive.

"Where are we goin'?" She asked.

"To see Father Malachi."

"Oh…" Jude hesitated. "That's right…"

She hadn't been looking forward to this part; she didn't really want to take back her vows… at the same time; something in her heart wanted to give herself to Timothy more than anything in the world. She relished the possibility of being more to him than just a simple nun; the idea seemed so much more than appealing, it just seemed right.

"Are you alright you seem…quiet." He inquired after a few moments.

"Y-yes Timothy it's just a lot ta think about."

"Yes it is." He confessed. "Do you really want to do this?" He inquired, stopping at a red light.

Jude looked into his eyes sensing pain in his voice when he asked this. He looked down for a moment, the anticipation of looming rejection evident in his eyes.

"Oh yes." She smiled. "I just…I can't believe ya do…the man who wanted ta become Pope."

"I know it doesn't make a lot of sense to you Jude." He began, placing his hand on her knee as he started to drive again. "But I love you, I've always loved you and for a long time I didn't know what it was, and slowly I began to realize but I denied my feelings…and then I started wanting this other life…and wanting you to be a substantial part of it…and eventually I realized I had nothing to loose in asking you." He smiled.

This was all true, but of course there was more to it than that. He'd done it, not just for his pleasure but to save her.

"And you accepted." He said, brushing his hand up her thigh ever so slightly, she shivered electrified by the softness of his hands. "So what do you think Mrs. Howard…or do you still want to be…"

"Yes." She said quickly. "And I understand now." Or at least she thought she did. She looked up when he took his hand off her knee and put the car in park.

"Well, we're here."

The two climbed out of the car, hesitating for a minute as they looked up at the grand old church, both knowing they could both easily turn back at this point: it wasn't too late. Both considered it momentarily, but found themselves, reaching for each other's hand. In that instant, all of their hesitancy disappeared and he kissed her fist, bringing it up and holding it close to his heart.

"Are you ready?" He asked again.

"More than ever."

…

Their meeting with Father Malachi went only as well as could've been expected. He was displeased; almost disgusted with them it seemed. Well, at least at first. By the end of their conversation (a teary-eyed discussion in Jude's case), Father Malachi couldn't help but try to put himself in their shoes. He supposed if he'd fallen in love with someone, and desired them, and discovered the feeling was mutual be would've left the church too: after all it was only right that way. Father Malachi extended his blessings to the new couple and wished them well, asking them to keep in touch.

Timothy held Jude's hand, squeezing it tightly as they walked out of Father Malachi's office and back to the car, the gentle squeeze of his hand was the only thing that seemed to calm her now; after all, she'd just given up her life and didn't know what lay ahead. Little did she know he felt similarly in some way.

"You're still scared." Timothy accessed, stopping once they were on the church's steps.

"Yes." She confessed, searching his eyes. "Just a little bit."

"That's alright. I am too." He smiled. "Is there anything I can do to remedy that, my beautiful bride?"

She blushed when he called her this, gasping a little when he moved in and wrapped his arms around her waist. She settled into his embrace quickly and sighed. She couldn't believe he was holding her like this…and on the steps of the church. Jude paused, watching some other nuns glance at them as they walked up the steps, a few of them seeming to recognize Timothy as the Monsignor…and then she realized the word wasn't other anymore. They were nuns and she was someone's fiancé. She could barely fathom it.

"How about this?" He suggested. "Let's go out to breakfast, and then after that, we'll spend the day together and do whatever you like."

"Like a date?"

"Yes." He laughed. "Like a date."

…

Timothy and Jude had had many meals together over the time they'd known each other and despite being engaged, they'd never been on a date. Jude had questioned him about going to Vermont, but Timothy had told her he didn't want their new life to be about burdens and deadlines. Instead, he'd insisted they spend the morning doing things on a whim and doing them together. The couple abandoned their cares, both trying to shed all sense of nervousness and expectation about their newfound relationship as they climbed out of the car. Hand in hand they made their way down the quiet Boston street; planning to have a romantic breakfast at this French place on the corner.

It was early in the morning and shops were just beginning to open up for the day. Timothy stopped, pulling Jude back toward him suddenly when the florist's shop opened their door.

"Far me?" She asked, when he handed her a single long-stemmed red rose.

"For my love." He smiled.

Jude closed her eyes and buried her nose in the flower for a moment. No one had ever bought her a flower before, and she planned on pressing it when she got to her new, still unknown home and saving it as it was her first gift from her new husband. Timothy couldn't have known how much the flower met to her: it was like a symbol of hope for the future, and a promise that pain of the past would plague her no more.

"I have more gifts for you actually." Timothy told her once they sat down to breakfast. She looked up in surprise.

"Far me? But Timothy I…"

"The bride is supposed to have gifts." He reminded.

"But Timothy…"

"But Jude, you see, this one is very special. I could not give it to you at Briarcliff. It wasn't safe there and we were not yet free." He smiled as he reached into his jacket pocket. "But I have had this for a while."

Jude had to admit she felt a twinge of anticipation when he placed a very small box in front of her on the table. She knew right away what it was.

"Far me?" She asked again.

"For my bride." He laughed.

He reached across the table and opened the box, revealing a beautiful little diamond ring, not too big, not too tiny, and brilliantly clear.

"Oh Timothy!" She could hardly believe this was something he wanted her to wear everyday: it looked almost too good to be true.

"Marry me tomorrow." He said, slipping the ring onto her finger.

"Oh Timothy." She leaned across the table and kissed him softly. He smiled deeply, himself still getting used to the feel of her kisses. "Oh yes Timothy, lets do it right away."

…..

A couple of hours later, after a wonderful morning Timothy and Jude left Boston: happier with their decision to run away together than ever before. Both had gone their separate ways briefly to buy some things to prepare for their wedding, mostly surprises they would not reveal to each other until the day and the night of.

Jude had to admit that she felt the little bit of tension and nervousness between them begin to thin that morning. Even though they loved each other and had been close for years, they were not bonded as a couple yet and sometimes, this all felt a little weird to her, even though it was something they both deeply desired. She knew that soon the awkwardness would be a distant memory: she could feel it in the way he held her hand. Timothy felt similarly, realizing they were adapting to each other's affectionate company very quickly. Even after a few hours, it was almost becoming second nature to hold her hand, to call her his bride and his love.

Around two-thirty they began their drive up to the land Timothy owned in Vermont. It was a long drive, and Jude found herself leaning against him, her head on his shoulder as he drove.

"I hope you like our new home." He began.

She smiled, just satisfied with the idea that the home was theirs and theirs alone. He was nervous about what she would think. He thought it was a lovely place, and while it was in slight disrepair due to its age, he took a lot of pride in it and what it could be. Most of all, he couldn't wait to share it with her.

"What's it like?" She asked.

"Well…I bought it with you in mind, my Jude. It's a beautiful old farmhouse, on a few acres of land, mostly apple orchards."

"Um…apples in the fall, that sounds really wonderful Timothy."

"We aren't too far from the edge of town. It's the kind of place where you can walk to the cinema but still sleep privately under the stars at night, its like a little oasis Jude."

She didn't elaborate, but this kind of life appealed to her, it was far different from any other way she'd ever lived and she found the idea of being out alone with him romantic.

He paused for a moment, he thought of his new acquisition as an ideal place to live and for that reason, he'd thought it would've been an ideal place to raise a baby…or three; three was what he had wanted. Timothy had gotten his hopes up on that front without ever consulting her and he realized that was a mistake. Not being able to have children was going to take some getting used to for him. It hurt him, but he would not tell her that. Even without explanation for her inability to have a baby, he sensed it hurt her far worse than it did him. Timothy sighed. Upon reflection he realized he'd much rather have her and only her by his side all his days than marry a woman he could have children with. He smiled, and continued to speak; once more reassured she was the only woman in the world for him.

"Now, I won't lie…the place needs some work and I haven't done all that much to it. I hoped, you see, that you'd help fix it up, and of course that you'd make most of the decisions about what you want done for me."

She laughed. "I think I can arrange that Timothy."

"We also don't have much…not right now." He continued.

"What do ya mean?" She raised an eyebrow.

"Well, it came partially furnished, so, we'll have to take care of most of that. Just about all we have is a bed and a stove." He laughed nervously.

Jude paused when he said the word bed, wondering if that met they would share a bed for the first time that night. She hadn't wanted to until after the wedding. It wasn't like she was all that pure, but this was supposed to be a fresh start.

An hour or so later, Timothy turned down a long gravel road, lined with tall trees adorned with crisp golden leaves which were just beginning to fall. The golden leaves shined perfectly as they made their way to the ground below, glimmering in the foreground of the slowly setting sun. Both of them remained focused on the house and land ahead, full of anticipation for different reasons.

"Oh Timothy, it's beautiful!" She squealed, surprised when the two-story farmhouse came into view.

The place was picture-esq. Jude could see that it was very old and in need of work, but that didn't take away from the fact that it was simply lovely. It was made of wood and stone and covered in ivy. She continued to stare at it as they climbed out of the car and didn't seem to notice at first when Timothy came to her side.

"Welcome to our home Jude." He said, she looked back at him and then at the house, paused in thought for a moment as she began to cry.

"J-Jude what's wrong?!" He asked quickly.

"I-it's just…it's just so lovely, and ya said home, that it was our home. And I've never really had a home befare."

His heart sunk when she said this, he did not realize this about her and it made him all the more glad he'd decided to ask her to be his family. He smiled kindly and lifted her into his arms, she squealed in surprise.

"Do not cry, my Jude." He said, lowering his head and placing his forehead gently against hers. She looked up, her eyes full of tears as he began to walk up the steps to the house. She knew now that he planned to carry her over the threshold. "You're at home and deeply loved, at long last."